Collapsible garment racks



July 9, 1957 A, SINGER COLLAPSIBLE GARMENT RAcxs Filed Feb. 18, 1953FIG. 5.

All

1N V EN TOR.

7 FIC-3 8. BY .ARNOLD SINGER @1f/W m COLLAPSIBLE GARMENT RACKS ArnoldSinger, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 18, 1953, Serial No. 337,582

4 Claims. (Cl. 211-=-17) This invention relates in general to racks and,more particularly, to collapsible garment racks.

One object of this invention is to provide a garment raclr which isadapted, when not in use, to be folded into a compact, narrow unit forfacile transportability and for space-saving storage, and which, wheninv open or operative position, provides a sturdy structure forsupporting a substantial number of hangers with garments thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible rack whichintegrally incorporates locking means for maintaining the rack inoperative position thereby obviating the necessity of separate, readilydisplaceable locking members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a garment rack whichmay be economically manufactured, preferably of tublar construction;which is reliable and durable in usage; and which is simple and eicientin operation.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement, `and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a front View of a garment rackin operative position, which rack is constructed in accordance with andembodies the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the rack;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 y.

of Figure 5;

Figure 7 illustrates the rack in collapsed or inoperative position; and

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodimentof the present invention, A designates a garment rack of preferablytubular chrome construction, comprising an upper transverse bar 1,forsup porting garment-carrying hangers.

Secured to bar 1 adjacent each of its ends are the upper ends ofrelatively short, vertical sections 2, 3, axially normal to bar 1;section 2 being slightly longer than section 3 for purposes presentlyappearing. At their lower ends, sections 2, 3, are each open forreception therein of a tongue member or flattened projection 4, 5,respectively, suitably provided at the upper ends of elon gated uprightsor posts 6, 7, respectively. Tongue members 4, 5, are swingably securedwithin sections 2, 3, Vby pins 8, S', respectively, whereby uprights 6,"l, may be swung between operative position wherein they are in axialalignment with vertical sections 2, 3, respectively,

Sttes Patent 0 N" 2,798,618 Patented July 9, 1957 and inoperativeposition wherein the same are in inwardly swung relation, substantiallyparallel to bar 1. Each section 2, 3, is provided on its inwardlydirected portion with a vertical opening 9 for movement of tonguemembers 4, 5, therethrough, when uprights 6, 7, are swung into and frominoperative, or collapsed, position. Abutment of one edge of tonguemembers 4, 5, against the upper edge of openings 9 determines the upperlimit of inward swinging movement. As shown in Figures l and 7, thelower ends of vertical sections 2, 3, are inclined downwardly andoutwardly as at 10 for abutment against complementarily formed shoulders11 on either side of each tongue member 4, 5, when uprights 6, 7, are inextended or operative position whereby the same will be aligned withtheir associated sections 2, 3. The ditierenti-al in length betweensections Z, 3, permits upright 7 to be positioned inwardly of upright 6and parallel thereto when rack A is collapsed.

At their lower ends, each upright 6, 7, is provided with a terminalflattened member 12 with the lateral faces thereof being presentedinwardly and outwardly for pivotal mounting on each face, as by a pivotpin 13, of the upper ends 14, 15, of generally Z-shaped base or footmembers 16, 17, for extension in opposite directions from the relateduprights. The upper end portions 14,

15, of each base member 16, 17, are hemispherical in cross section andthe over all thickness of said ends 14, 15, and the intermediateflattened portion 12 is greater than the diameter of the uprights 6, 7(Figure 5). Bases 16, 17, each comprise a central portion 18perpendicular to uprights 6, 7, when the rack is in open position, andshort legs 19 extending from the outer ends of said central portions 18.Each base 16, 17, may be swung about their pivot pins 13 toward eachother and their respective uprights 6, 7, into the position shown inFigure 8 wherein central portions 18 thereof are substantially parallelto each other and to said uprights 6, 7. By the swingable mounting ofsaid bases 16, 17, the same may be folded into compact relation forfacilitating the portability of rack A. Any suitable means may beprovided, if desired, for preventing said bases 16, 17, from prematurelyswinging into open position, such as straps or binding members, whichcould extend about the rack A when in collapsed position.

Provided for maintaining rack A in open, operative position, is alocking bar 2@ for extension between uprights 6, 7, parallel to bar 1and having suitably mounted, as by welding, at its opposite ends sleeves21, 22, the inside diameter thereof being just slightly greater than thecombined thickness or cross section of said base upper ends 14, 15, andthe related terminal members l2, whereby said sleeves 21, 22, are freelyslidable along uprights 6, 7, when the same are extended. Sleeves 21,22, are thus designed for snug iitting around the base upper ends 14,15, when rack A is in operative position (Figure 2) to hold said basesagainst inadvertent collapsing.

When it is desired to collapse rack A, locking bar 20 is moved upwardlyalong uprights ti, 7, until sleeves 2, 22., surround vertical sections2, 3, with the upper margins of said sleeves abutting against transversebar 1 (Figure 7), in which position the lower ends of said sleeves 21,Z2, will be spaced upwardly from openings 9 to permit inward and upwardswinging of uprights d, '7, into inoperative disposition. Since sleeves21, Z2, have been .removed trom the lower ends ot' uprights d, 7, thebase members 16, 17, may be readily swung inwardly for enhancing thecompactness of the now collapsed rack. In folded condition, rack A takesa minimum of space and provides an integrated, relatively narrow parceleasilyhandled for transportation. To open raclr A for use, uprights 6,7, are swung outwardly into axial alignment with their respectivevertical sections 2, 3, wherein shoulders 11 will be in abutment againstthe inclined lower margins of said sections 2., 3, Each base member 16,17, may then he swung outwardly from their associated uprights 6, 7 intoextended position. Locking bar 20 is then moved downwardly to its lowestlimit wherein sleeves 21, 22, are disposed about upper ends 14, 15, ofsaid bases 16 17, with the lower edges of said sleeves abutting againstthe adjacent portion of sections 18 of said bases 16, 17. In thisposition locking bar 20 provides lateral rigidity to the structure,maintaining uorights 6, 7, spacedly `apart in frame-forming relation tobars l, 20. Sleeves 21, 22, thus prevent inadvertent swinging of vbases16, 17, so that rack A is tirm and steady `for supporting a substantialnumber of garments suspended by conventional hangers on transverse bar1..

As set forth hereinabove, rack A provides a sturdy, durable device whenin operative position for supporting garments and the like and may becollapsed into a cornpact readily portable unit for facile transfer toselected locations for use or for storage utilizing a minimum of space.

It should be understood that changes and modications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts ofcollapsible garment rack may be made and substituted for those hereinshown and de scribed without departing from the nature and principle ofthe present invention.

What I claim and desire toA secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A garment rack comprising a transverse bar, spaced uprights forsupporting said bar, each upright being provided at its lower end with aflattened portion, and a pair of generally Z-shaped base members havingtheir upper ends pivotally secured on opposite faces of the tiattenedportion at the lower end of each upright, the base members on eachupright extending in opposite directions, with their central portionsaxially perpendicular', to the associated upright when in operativeposition, said base members being swingable about their pivot intocollapsed or inoperative position wherein the central portions areparallel to the associated upright, and interconnected locking sleevesslidable along each upright for receiving the upper ends ot theassociated base member to prevent premature collapsing action thereof.

2. A collapsible garment rack comprising an upper transverse bar, a pairof spaced sections axially normal, and fixed, to said bar, an elongatedupright hingedly engaged at its upper end to each section for swingingmovement between extended or operative position in axial alignment withthe related sections yand collapsed or inwardly swung position insubstantially parallel relation to said upper bar, a pair of generallyz-shaped base members having their upper ends pivotally secured to thelower end of each upright, the base members on each upright extending inopposite directions, with their central portions axially perpendicular,to the associated upright when in operative position, said base membersbeing swingable about their pivot into collapsed or inoperative positionwherein the central portions are parallel to the associated upright, anda lower transverse bar extending between said uprights in parallelrelation to said upper bar, said lower bar having sleeve members at itsopposite ends for Cil sliding movement along said uprights toward andaway from said upper bar, whereby when said lower bar is at its lowerlimit the sleeves will t ,about the upper ends of said base members formaintaining same in operative position and simultaneously maintain saiduprights spacedly apart so that premature collapsing action of said rackwill be prevented.

3. A collapsible garment rack as described in claim 2 wherein thecombined cross section of the upper ends of the base members and theengaged portion of the upright is greater than the diameter of theupright and the sleeves are of a diameter slightly greater than saidcombined cross section so that said sleeves will be snugly engageableabout said base upper ends and readily slidable along said uprights.

4. A collapsible garment rack comprising an upper transverse bar, a pairof spaced, short, rod-like sections axially normal, and fixed, to saidbar, an elongated upright hingedly engaged at its upper end to eachsection for swinging movement between extended or operative position inaxial alignment with the related sections and collapsed or inwardlyswung position in substantially parallel relation to said upper bar,each upright being provided at its lower end with a ilattened portion, apair of generally Z-shaped base members having their upper endspivotally secured on opposite faces of the iiattened portion at thelower end of'each upright, the base members on each upright extending inopposite directions, with their central portions axially perpendicular,to the associated upright when in operative position, said base membersbeing swingable about their pivot into collapsed or inoperative positionwherein the central portions are parallel to the associated upright,.and a lower transverse bar extending between said uprights in parallelrelation to said upper bar, said lower bar having an axiallyperpendicular sleeve member at each of its ends for extension therethrough of said uprights to permit sliding movement along said uprightstoward and away from said upper bar, whereby when said lower bar is atits lower limit the sleeves will rest on their lower edge upon thecentral portion of the base members and iit about the upper ends of saidbase members for maintaining same in operative posi tion, andsimultaneously maintain said uprights spacedly ,apart so that prematurecollapsing action of said rack will be prevented.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 389,628Wolerstein Sept. 18, 1888 580,655 Thew Apr. 13, 1897 906,963 ThompsonDec. 15, 1908 963,129 Feldman July 5, 1910 994,753 Kohn June 13, 19111,286,161 Wagner Nov. 26, 1918 1,322,901 Heinlein Nov. 25, 19191,464,904 Feldman Aug. 14, 1923 2,301,284 Jordan Nov. 10, 1942 2,549,573Clark Apr. 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 286,326 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1942909,039 France Apr. 5, 1946

